Posts from the ‘Sylvester’ Category

Subscribe

Sylvester James, Jr. (September 6, 1947 – December 16, 1988), who used the stage name of Sylvester, was an American singer-songwriter. Primarily active in the genres of disco, rhythm and blues, and soul, he was known for his flamboyant and androgynous appearance, falsetto singing voice, and hit disco singles in the late 1970s.

All I Need is the sixth studio album by the American recording artist Sylvester.

Sylvester was on the downside of his career in the mid-’80s. He still had the glorious tones and booming voice, but was now floundering, with his high-energy brand of disco out of fashion.
Closely associated with the now unpopular disco and having had no hit singles in the preceding few years, after leaving Fantasy Sylvester was not a particular draw for major record labels. Recognizing this state of affairs, in 1982 Sylvester commented that “there’s nothing worse than a fallen star” who still has “illusions” of their continuing fame. Rather than chasing major chart success, Sylvester wanted to focus on retaining creative control over his music. Hiring his former tour manager and longstanding friend Tim McKenna as his new manager, Sylvester decided to produce his next album with Megatone Records, a small San Francisco company that had been founded in 1981 by Patrick Cowley and Marty Blecman and which catered largely to the gay club scene. The result was All I Need (1982), on which James Wirrick had written most of the songs, which were dance-orientated and influenced by the new wave music then in vogue. Sylvester insisted that he include several ballads on the album, which featured cover art by Mark Amerika depicting Sylvester in ancient Egyptian garb.
One of the best known Sylvester songs of this period was “Do Ya Wanna Funk“, a Hi-NRG dance track co-written with Cowley which was released as a single in July 1982, topping the U.S. dance charts and entering the pop charts in a number of countries across the world.

Side one
1. All I Need (4:27)
2. Be With You (6:38)
3. Do You Wanna Funk (3:31)
4. Hard Up (4:39)